Well, I am back. Bwana Asifiwe.
Cultural re-entry is a difficult feat for me as I mourn the loss of friendships with my Kenyan and American brothers and sisters. God is continuing to clarify many things I have learned so far and is bring up more and more as the days pass. I don't think I have shed this many tears since I was a chubby baby. Leaving Kenya wrenched my heart and I'm sure I left pieces of it behind. However, I know God will use all of the transitions I've been through (and will continue to go through) for my good; to bring me closer to Him.
Our director reminded us during debriefing of what Paul said in Philippians 4:11-12 - "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation whether fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
That is what I am learning now - I want to be back in Kenya and I am glad I'm home at the same time, but either way I need to be content. As she was giving a morning devotion, one of the Kenyan students on our team held up a white piece of paper with a small black dot in the center. She asked us what we saw - "a black dot" was the most common response (except for a few smarty pants in the group). Wrong answer. It was a white piece of paper. She proceeded to explain that if all we focused on was the black dot, we were missing the bigger picture. It is like that when we want something from God - in our prayers we focus on what we don't have or what we need, but we neglect to praise Him and thank Him for what He has already done. So despite my longing for the people and culture I have grown to love, I have been trying to focus on praising God for everything He has done for me during my time away. If I listed the things He has done for me within the last two months, I would have many books filled with His praises.
So, yes, I am experiencing much loss. And I am also experiencing so much gain that I cannot overlook! I learned more about myself and of my Heavenly Father than I expected to, I gained life-long friendships with people I can visit by car and by plane, and I have discovered what it truly feels like to rely on God for my strength. It may sound elementary, but it goes deeper than anything I've ever experienced before.
God has blessed me with one of the most difficult but best experience I have ever had in my life. And we were all blessed with safety, fairly good health, and a pretty low-maintenance, wonderful team.
I open the box of chai tea bags, drink in the smell that brings tears to my eyes, and find how incredibly thankful I am to all of you for supporting me monetarily and prayerfully. Because of your support, you went with me - you were there when I shared the Gospel, when I held students neglected by their parents, when I gave sermons, when I built relationships with the teachers, when I turned heads because of my skin color, when God taught me about myself and Him, and when He used this timid girl for His purpose whether or not I saw the results.
I am not sure how I will do this or if I'll do this, but I want to share with you what each day/week was like and show how God was working. Ultimately, this trip was about God - I was just a vessel. More to come.
Thank you all again for your support. I cannot find words enough to thank you properly.
Mungu akubariki (God bless),
Missy
Jul 25, 2011
Jul 13, 2011
10 Days and Dreading
Bwana Asifiwe! Harbari.
First thing is first: I wrote an email last week that I could not post here, so I have pasted it below.
Bwana Asifiwe!
I am safe and sound after three weeks in kwale district just outside of mombasa (i have a bad keyboard, so i apologize!). Beatrice and I had such a wonderful experience, but we are all back in Nairobi with our team staying just outside Kasarani town. It is cold here compared to Kwale! My heart is heavy after leaving such a loving family, students, and teachers. I cannot describe how difficult it was to leave them, and how difficult it is to be in the big city with a bunch of wazungu (white people). I didn't have much trouble in kwale...I didn't get homesick or have moments when i wanted to hide; but being back in a city and with the team has made me homesick for my host family and my family and friends back home.
Kwale was beautiful and green. It was hot, but not as hot as Mombasa - and humid. We loved being with the teachers and students at Mwangaza Visionary School (a branch of mombasa pentecostal church). I wish I had time to express how much I learned there! Pastor and Momma Nora were the most wonderful people along with the house help, Tatu, and their daughter, Blessings. They really challenged and encouraged me. Bea and I did devotions with the students every morning, devotions with the staff tuesdays and fridays, preached, visited the homes of some students who were Muslim and shared the Gospel, sang and prayed the African way, and laughed. i had chai at least 4 times a day, and I probably gained a few pounds. I also learned quite a bit of kiswahili!
God worked in me and through me in so many ways, but I will tell more stories when I have more time.
Now we are getting ready for more ministry in nairobi. we will visit two more slums, orphanages, do prayer walks through hindu and muslim places of worship, and be learning more from God.
Please pray for;
my transition back into the city and team
clarity of God's will for me
my ministry in on the coast - that God will use it for his glory
praise that all the teams are safe.
God bless,
Missy
Just in case you missed that email, read it before you read any further!
Again, I have a bad keyboard, so bear with me.
Over the last week, I have been with my team visiting Hindi temples, Muslim mosques, encountering Zebras and many other animals at a National Park, and worked in the slums. It has been a week since I left Kwale, and I feel like I have been able to process most of the things that I learned there. I wish I could write you every thing about it, but I can stick to the general things. I learned: humility, obedience in the Holy Spirit's promptings (for reading and teaching God's Word), how to cope when everything familiar is stripped away, building relationships with those of a different culture, and much more. I cannot wait to tell stories of the adventure Bea and I had together with our host family and teachers.
Being back with the team was difficult at first. I thrive in smaller groups, so a team of 45 was very overwhelming and sent me to that hole I retreat to when everyone's personalities dominate. However, God really challenged me to stop thinking about Kwale, to engage with my team, and to open my heart to learning the lessons ahead of me the day after we united. Learning about Islam and Hinduism was so great for us! It really helped us know for sure why we believe what we believe. We also went back to the Mathare slum to work on painting the worship centere and some other tasks. I was with a team cleaning out some of the trench and clearing piles of trash. The smell was overwhelming and I won't say what we found there, but it was good for me to see what the people of the slum live around. Imagine stepping in poop, rotting food, wrappers, and smelling decay 24/7. We are spoiled in America. We fuss over cleanliness, food, and want things done a certain way when half-way across the world are innocent children living in poop. They didn't choose to live there.
There are so many things I am still trying to process about this trip as a whole; God has been whispering in my ear every day. Tomorrow we will be going to a youth prison and minister to them.
I will be back in the USA in less than 2 weeks. A big part of me is longing to stay. I miss you all back home. I miss cheese, cookies, tacos, cold water, but I don't want to leave. I am trying to savor every possible moment! We will be leaving Nairobi the 15th and taking a train to Mombasa for debriefing and who knows what else.
Please continue to pray for:
safety
health (I haven't gotten sick yet, but Bea caught malaria so I am on guard. She's fine, btw)
Open heart to what more God has for me
Mungu Akubariki, God bless,
Missy
Extra notes:
Paula and Liz - thank you for the redlining bag! I wish I opened it on assignment, but I didn't think I was redlining enough. Haha.
First thing is first: I wrote an email last week that I could not post here, so I have pasted it below.
Bwana Asifiwe!
I am safe and sound after three weeks in kwale district just outside of mombasa (i have a bad keyboard, so i apologize!). Beatrice and I had such a wonderful experience, but we are all back in Nairobi with our team staying just outside Kasarani town. It is cold here compared to Kwale! My heart is heavy after leaving such a loving family, students, and teachers. I cannot describe how difficult it was to leave them, and how difficult it is to be in the big city with a bunch of wazungu (white people). I didn't have much trouble in kwale...I didn't get homesick or have moments when i wanted to hide; but being back in a city and with the team has made me homesick for my host family and my family and friends back home.
Kwale was beautiful and green. It was hot, but not as hot as Mombasa - and humid. We loved being with the teachers and students at Mwangaza Visionary School (a branch of mombasa pentecostal church). I wish I had time to express how much I learned there! Pastor and Momma Nora were the most wonderful people along with the house help, Tatu, and their daughter, Blessings. They really challenged and encouraged me. Bea and I did devotions with the students every morning, devotions with the staff tuesdays and fridays, preached, visited the homes of some students who were Muslim and shared the Gospel, sang and prayed the African way, and laughed. i had chai at least 4 times a day, and I probably gained a few pounds. I also learned quite a bit of kiswahili!
God worked in me and through me in so many ways, but I will tell more stories when I have more time.
Now we are getting ready for more ministry in nairobi. we will visit two more slums, orphanages, do prayer walks through hindu and muslim places of worship, and be learning more from God.
Please pray for;
my transition back into the city and team
clarity of God's will for me
my ministry in on the coast - that God will use it for his glory
praise that all the teams are safe.
God bless,
Missy
Just in case you missed that email, read it before you read any further!
Again, I have a bad keyboard, so bear with me.
Over the last week, I have been with my team visiting Hindi temples, Muslim mosques, encountering Zebras and many other animals at a National Park, and worked in the slums. It has been a week since I left Kwale, and I feel like I have been able to process most of the things that I learned there. I wish I could write you every thing about it, but I can stick to the general things. I learned: humility, obedience in the Holy Spirit's promptings (for reading and teaching God's Word), how to cope when everything familiar is stripped away, building relationships with those of a different culture, and much more. I cannot wait to tell stories of the adventure Bea and I had together with our host family and teachers.
Being back with the team was difficult at first. I thrive in smaller groups, so a team of 45 was very overwhelming and sent me to that hole I retreat to when everyone's personalities dominate. However, God really challenged me to stop thinking about Kwale, to engage with my team, and to open my heart to learning the lessons ahead of me the day after we united. Learning about Islam and Hinduism was so great for us! It really helped us know for sure why we believe what we believe. We also went back to the Mathare slum to work on painting the worship centere and some other tasks. I was with a team cleaning out some of the trench and clearing piles of trash. The smell was overwhelming and I won't say what we found there, but it was good for me to see what the people of the slum live around. Imagine stepping in poop, rotting food, wrappers, and smelling decay 24/7. We are spoiled in America. We fuss over cleanliness, food, and want things done a certain way when half-way across the world are innocent children living in poop. They didn't choose to live there.
There are so many things I am still trying to process about this trip as a whole; God has been whispering in my ear every day. Tomorrow we will be going to a youth prison and minister to them.
I will be back in the USA in less than 2 weeks. A big part of me is longing to stay. I miss you all back home. I miss cheese, cookies, tacos, cold water, but I don't want to leave. I am trying to savor every possible moment! We will be leaving Nairobi the 15th and taking a train to Mombasa for debriefing and who knows what else.
Please continue to pray for:
safety
health (I haven't gotten sick yet, but Bea caught malaria so I am on guard. She's fine, btw)
Open heart to what more God has for me
Mungu Akubariki, God bless,
Missy
Extra notes:
Paula and Liz - thank you for the redlining bag! I wish I opened it on assignment, but I didn't think I was redlining enough. Haha.
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